s well as they could to be sure there
was nobody in it, they set up their tent with the head of it against the
barn. This they did also because the wind blew that night very high, and
they were but young at such a way of lodging, as well as at the managing
their tent.

Here they went to sleep; but the joiner, a grave and sober man, and not
pleased with their lying at this loose rate the first night, could not
sleep, and resolved, after trying it to no purpose, that he would get
out, and, taking the gun in his hand, stand sentinel, and guard his
companions. So, with the gun in his hand, he walked to and again before
the barn; for that stood in the field near the road, but within the
hedge. He had not been long upon the scout, but he heard a noise of
people coming on as if it had been a great number; and they came on, as
he thought, directly towards the barn. He did not presently awake his
companions, but in a few minutes more, their noise growing louder and
louder, the biscuit baker called to him and asked him what was the
matter, and quickly started out too. The other being the lame sailmaker,
and most weary, lay still in the tent.

As they expected, so the people whom they had heard came on directly to
the barn, when one of our travelers challenged, like soldiers upon the
guard, with, "Who comes there?" The people did not answer immediately;
but one of them speaking to another that was behind them, "Alas, alas!
we are all disappointed," says he; "here are some people before us; the
barn is taken up."

They all stopped upon that, as under some surprise; and it seems there
were about thirteen of them in all, and some women among them. They
consulted together what they should do; and by their discourse, our
travelers soon found they were poor distressed people too, like
themselves, seeking shelter and safety; and besides, our travelers had
no need to be afraid of their coming up to disturb them, for as soon as
they heard the words, "Who comes there?" they could hear the women say,
as if frighted, "Do not go near them; how do you know but they may have
the plague?" And when one of the men said, "Let us but speak to them,"
the women said, "No, don't, by any means; we have escaped thus far by
the goodness of God; do not let us run into danger now, we beseech you."

Our travelers found by this that they were a good sober sort of people,
and flying for their lives as they were; and as they were encouraged by
it, so John sa